"The Last of Us Season 2 Adds Six to Cast Before April Premiere"

HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2 is set to premiere on April 13, and the show is expanding its cast with six new actors to enrich the narrative inspired by The Last of Us Part II. According to Variety, the new additions to the ensemble include Joe Pantoliano (Memento, The Matrix), Alanna Ubach (Euphoria, Bombshell), Ben Ahlers (The Gilded Age, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina), Hettienne Park (Don’t Look Up), Robert John Burke (RoboCop 3), and Noah Lamanna (Star Trek: Strange New Worlds).

These actors will portray a mix of characters from the original game and new faces introduced for the series. Joe Pantoliano, for instance, will take on the role of Eugene, a character who was briefly featured in The Last of Us Part II as Ellie and Dina’s pot-smoking friend. In Season 2, Eugene's role will be expanded, offering viewers a deeper look into his background and his impact on Joel and Ellie's relationship, as explained by showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann to Variety.

Robert John Burke will play Seth, the bar owner known for his bigoted remarks in the game, while Noah Lamanna will portray Kat, Ellie's former girlfriend. Alanna Ubach, Ben Ahlers, and Hettienne Park will introduce new characters to the series: Hanrahan, Burton, and Elise Park, respectively.

The new cast members join a robust lineup that already includes Pedro Pascal as Joel, Bella Ramsey as Ellie, Isabela Merced as Dina, Kaitlyn Dever as Abby, and Gabriel Luna as Tommy. The showrunners have hinted that the storyline of The Last of Us Part II will unfold over multiple seasons, promising more surprises as the episodes progress.

For more insights into HBO’s The Last of Us Season 2, check out why the show may extend its narrative over four seasons and learn about Neil Druckmann’s comments on the inclusion of some “pretty brutal” cut content from the original sequel video game.